Rahway Resident To Begin Peace Corps Service In Panama

RAHWAY — Kenneth Murray, 23, of Rahway, has been accepted into the Peace Corps and will depart for Panama on June 18 to begin training as an environmental health volunteer. Murray will live and work in a community to educate and promote awareness issues such as malnutrition and safe drinking water to local residents.

“As our world becomes more integrated and more globalized, I think it is important to understand each others’ cultural backgrounds and traditions,” said Murray. “The Peace Corps gives one the opportunity to experience this exchange in a very unique manner.”

Murray is the son of Ken Murray and Celeste Kosty Murray and a graduate of Roselle Catholic High School in Roselle. He then attended Rutgers University in New Brunswick, where he earned a degree in environmental policy and public health in 2012.

“I was given the opportunity to travel to Tanzania while I was at Rutgers. This experience helped me understand the international issues in environmental health by witnessing the prevalence of communicable diseases in poverty stricken areas,” said Murray.

During the first three months of his service, Murray will live with a host family in Panama to become fully immersed in the country’s language and culture. After acquiring the language and cultural skills necessary to assist his community, Murray will be sworn into service and be assigned to a community in Panama, where he will live and work for two years with the local people.

“I believe the Peace Corps is unique because it brings volunteers and locals together to solve issues,” said Murray, who is hoping to pursue a career in international environmental health issues upon his return.

Murray joins the 185 New Jersey residents currently serving in the Peace Corps and more than 4,773 New Jersey residents who have served in the Peace Corps since 1961.